Molecular Signatures of Natural Killer Cells in CMV-Associated Anterior Uveitis, A New Type of CMV-Induced Disease in Immunocompetent Individuals

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes clinical issues primarily in immune-suppressed conditions. CMV-associated anterior uveitis (CMV-AU) is a notable new disease entity manifesting recurrent ocular inflammation immunocompetent individuals. As patient demographics indicated contributions from genetic background and immunosenescence as possible underlying pathological mechanisms, we analyzed the immunogenetics of cohort conjunction with cell phenotypes to identify molecular signatures CMV-AU. Among immune types, natural killer (NK) cells are main responders against CMV. Therefore, first characterized variants polymorphic genes that encode differences CMV-related human NK responses (Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) HLA class I) 122 CMV-AU patients. The cases were then stratified according their features for markers (CD57, KLRG1, NKG2C) by flow cytometry. KIR3DL1 I combinations encoding strong receptor–ligand interactions present at substantially higher frequencies In these cases, profiling revealed expansion subset co-expressing CD57 together CMV-recognizing NKG2C receptor. findings imply mechanism pathogenesis likely involves CMV-responding CD57/KLRG1/NKG2C develop on KIR3DL1/HLA-B allotypes interactions.